OnePlus Pad Go 2023 review: The Affordable OnePlus tablet you’ve been waiting for

OnePlus Pad Go review: Why is it the best for the price?

OnePlus has already forayed into the tablet market with its OnePlus Pad, which I already told is a great option for buyers looking for a mid-range tablet with an excellent experience overall. However, if you are someone who has always wanted a OnePlus tablet in the budget range, the new OnePlus Pad Go is the one for you. Starting at only ₹19,999, this tablet is aimed at people who need a tablet for everyday usage without burning their pockets.

I already loved using the OnePlus Pad for my everyday work, so I did expect this OnePlus Pad Go to at least give a good experience to those who want a more affordable option, retaining all the goodness of the original OnePlus tablet. So, yes, the OnePlus Pad Go does the same, and having used this one for weeks now, here’s a complete review of it:

OnePlus Pad Go Specifications

• [Outstanding Display]: 2.4K 2408×1720 Ultra-High resolution, 11.35-inch/28.85cm Massive Display, 7:5 ReadFit screen ratio & 260 PPI with 400 nits brightness.
• [Awesome Audio]: OnePlus Omni bearing sound with Dolby Atmos Quad Speakers
• [Eye Care]: Low Blue Light (TÜV Rheinland Certified); Intelligent brightness; DC Dimming; Bedtime Mode
• [Seamless connectivity]: WiFi with 4G LTE (calling) [Processor and Operating system]: MediaTek Helio G99, Android Oxygen OS 13.2
• [Storage & Battery]: 8GB RAM with 256GB storage; 8000 mAh big battery with up to 514 hours of standby, 33W SUPERVOOC fast charging

In the Box

• OnePlus Pad Go
• Type-C Cable
• 33W SUPERVOOC Power Adapter
• Quick Start Guide
• Safety Information and Warranty Card

Design & Build Quality

In terms of looks, the new OnePlus Pad Go is a sleek tablet with rounded edges, which makes it very easy to hold, and there is an eye-catching Twin Mint finish that combines reflective green glass with a smooth matte surface. The metal build is not very heavy but still looks premium and is very easy to carry anywhere, hold, and use on the go. Also, the build quality, for the same reason, is very rigid and doesn’t feel cheap of any sort.

Display

This new OnePlus Pad Go features an 11.35-inch 2.4K display with a 7:5 aspect ratio and a 90Hz refresh rate, making the everyday usage experience very smooth. Though it does not have the 144Hz refresh rate from the original OnePlus Pad for this price, having a big display with a 90Hz refresh rate is much better. Also, you can enjoy the crisp 2408 x 1720 pixels resolution for crystal-clear image quality.

The 7:5 aspect ratio helps to give you a wider field of view, and having up to 400 nits of peak brightness ensures that you can watch the tablet even in broad daylight. Thanks to 2,048 levels of automatic brightness control, low blue light technology, Eye Comfort mode, and the Nature Tone Display feature, the display feels premium, and wherever you use it, you will never feel disappointed.

From watching movies during flight, writing casual articles or even bing-watching at night, this OnePlus Pad Go’s display always looked good and sharp. Though the color accuracy could have been better if it was an OLED for this price, the display quality is quite good for a pleasant everyday experience.

Performance

Coming to performance, you do expect a similar kind of performance to that of the OnePlus Pad but at half price, realistically, at least you expect a decent performance. The MediaTek Helio G99 here is paired with up to 8GB RAM and 256GB ROM to give all-day smooth performance and for my use, though I did notice some stutter here and there the overall usage experience was quite good.

The 90Hz display along with the optimizations OnePlus made, the Helio G99 handled everyday tasks pretty easily but the animations while transitioning had minimal lag. Realistically, the OnePlus Pad Go will give you a decent performance with minor gaming as well but do not expect something extraordinary out of this one. Here are some of the benchmarks of the device:

As you see both in Geekbench and 3D Mark Wild Life test, the tablet put just-ok numbers and for a budget tablet like this, the performance seems very decent to me. The good part is as you see in the throttling tests, the Helio G99 with 8GB RAM sustains the best performance over time and gets less heated up. Though OnePlus claims that the tablet can open up to 22 apps in the background for most people with normal usage this OnePlus Pad Go would easily suffice.

Audio and Camera

With OnePlus’ Omnibearing Sound Field technology and quad Speakers with Dolby Atmos support, the audio here is mind-blowing, and the experience is very similar to the premium OnePlus Pad. So, from listening to your favourite music or enjoying movies with your friends, this OnePlus Pad Go‘s audio won’t disappoint at all and the quality of the sound is also very good.

The central positioning of the 8MP front and rear cameras along the top edge of the tablet makes it even more functional and useful, from taking video calls that look quite good to taking quick snaps on the go, the camera is decent I would say.

Connectivity and I/O

In terms of connectivity, you get 4G LTE and Wi-Fi makes it easier for people to use this OnePlus Pad Go anytime, anywhere as per convenience. If you buy the Wi-Fi model, you also get a Cellular Data Sharing feature, similar to the OnePlus Pad. For buttons, you get the power switch on the top left-hand corner, whereas the volume up and down buttons are at the top, in a spot where your hands can easily reach. In my usage, I enjoyed connecting this OnePlus Pad Go to both Wi-Fi and 4G LTE, which worked seamlessly without any hassle.

Software

The upgraded OxygenOS 13.2 has lot of features to offer for users including Auto Connect that lets you connect and cast your phone to the tablet easily, then you have screen mirroring, drag and drop between your OnePlus phone and this tablet, helping you to enjoy the ecosystem of OnePlus products.

Also, when the OnePlus Pad Go and your phone are connected, text can also be copied on one device and pasted directly from the clipboard in the other, these additional features alongside the clean OxygenOS helps you to enjoy the tablet experience.

Battery Life

Its good to see that OnePlus has retained the huge 8,000 mAh battery it originally brought with the OnePlus Pad and expect good battery life from this Pad Go as well. I comfortably got two days of moderate use with one single charge and if you are a heavy user also, you can still get a day’s of use easily. Also, you have a 33W SUPERVOOC Power Adapter and it supports fast charging as well, takes around a hour or so to fully charge.

Verdict

Now, should you buy the new OnePlus Pad Go? Well, for the price you can get a better-specced model or a cheaper one with similar specs but the premiumness and those extra features OnePlus has to offer will not be there in those tablets for sure. OnePlus has given a nice overall experience with this OnePlus Pad Go, though it could have been a bit more powerful but the key aspects like display, software, battery life and connectivity are pretty well-balanced, making the tablet a must for budget-sensitive people.

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